Diocese of Beja

Dioecesis Beiensis

Bishop(s)

António Vitalino Fernandes Dantas, O. Carm., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 July 1770
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Évora
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Portugal
Square Kilometers: 12,300 (4,750 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocese-beja.pt/
Mailing Address: Bispado, Rua D. Afonso Henriques 1A, 7800-049 Beja; Apartado 94, 7800-902 Beja, CODEX, Portugal
Telephone: 284.323.159
Fax: 284.323.250

Past and Present Ordinaries

Manuel do Cenáculo Vilas Boas, T.O.R. † (5 Mar 1770 Appointed - 9 Aug 1802 Confirmed, Archbishop of Évora)
Francisco Leitão de Carvalho, O. Cist. † (9 Aug 1802 Confirmed - 21 Sep 1806 Died)
Joaquim do Rosário Vieira, O.F.M. † (3 Aug 1807 Confirmed - 8 Sep 1808 Died)
Emmanuel de Sousa Carvalho, M.I. † (19 Dec 1814 Confirmed - )
Luís da Cunha de Abreu e Melo † (28 Aug 1820 Appointed - 9 Aug 1833 Died)
Manuel Pires de Azevedo Loureiro † (22 Jan 1844 Confirmed - 26 Sep 1848 Died)
José Xavier de Cerveira e Sousa † (28 Sep 1849 Confirmed - 15 Apr 1859 Confirmed, Bishop of Viseu)
José António da Mata e Silva † (20 Jun 1859 Confirmed - 13 Jul 1860 Confirmed, Archbishop of Évora)
Antonio da Trindade de Vasconcellos Pereira de Melo † (18 Mar 1861 Confirmed - 1 Oct 1863 Confirmed, Bishop of Lamego)
Antonio Saverio de Souza Monteiro † (9 Aug 1883 Confirmed - 1 Jun 1906 Died)
Sebastião Leite de Vasconcellos † (19 Dec 1907 Appointed - 15 Dec 1919 Resigned)
José do Patrocinio Dias † (16 Dec 1920 Appointed - 24 Oct 1965 Died)
Manuel Dos Santos Rocha † (14 Dec 1965 Appointed - 8 Sep 1980 Retired)
Manuel Franco da Costa de Oliveira Falcão † (8 Sep 1980 Succeeded - 25 Jan 1999 Retired)
António Vitalino Fernandes Dantas, O. Carm. (25 Jan 1999 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 July 1770	Erected	Archdiocese of Évora	Diocese of Beja (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1949 258,595 334,504 77.3% 43 3 46 5,621 2 36 ap1951

1958 290,189 352,956 82.2% 57 2 59 4,918 2 35 116 ap1960

1969 309,285 340,400 90.9% 72 5 77 4,016 7 101 42 ap1971

1980 234,000 272,000 86.0% 58 11 69 3,391 14 111 115 ap1981

1990 229,000 247,800 92.4% 50 14 64 3,578 15 82 120 ap1991

1999 190,000 226,000 84.1% 42 12 54 3,518 4 13 85 117 ap2000

2000 190,000 226,000 84.1% 44 12 56 3,392 4 13 85 117 ap2001

2001 190,000 226,000 84.1% 41 17 58 3,275 4 17 82 117 ap2002

2002 184,194 220,194 83.7% 39 17 56 3,289 7 20 81 118 ap2003

2003 184,194 220,194 83.7% 41 17 58 3,175 4 17 82 118 ap2004

2004 184,194 220,794 83.4% 40 18 58 3,175 4 18 80 119 ap2005

2006 184,900 221,700 83.4% 42 13 55 3,361 5 14 71 119 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	258,595	334,504	77.3%	43	3	46	5,621		2	36		ap1951
1958	290,189	352,956	82.2%	57	2	59	4,918		2	35	116	ap1960
1969	309,285	340,400	90.9%	72	5	77	4,016		7	101	42	ap1971
1980	234,000	272,000	86.0%	58	11	69	3,391		14	111	115	ap1981
1990	229,000	247,800	92.4%	50	14	64	3,578		15	82	120	ap1991
1999	190,000	226,000	84.1%	42	12	54	3,518	4	13	85	117	ap2000
2000	190,000	226,000	84.1%	44	12	56	3,392	4	13	85	117	ap2001
2001	190,000	226,000	84.1%	41	17	58	3,275	4	17	82	117	ap2002
2002	184,194	220,194	83.7%	39	17	56	3,289	7	20	81	118	ap2003
2003	184,194	220,194	83.7%	41	17	58	3,175	4	17	82	118	ap2004
2004	184,194	220,794	83.4%	40	18	58	3,175	4	18	80	119	ap2005
2006	184,900	221,700	83.4%	42	13	55	3,361	5	14	71	119	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

António Vitalino Fernandes Dantas, O. Carm. (Bishop: 25 Jan 1999)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

António Cardoso Cunha † (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Mar 1956 to 13 May 1966)
José Xavier de Cerveira e Sousa † (Bishop: 28 Sep 1849 to 15 Apr 1859)
Luís da Cunha de Abreu e Melo † (Bishop: 28 Aug 1820 to 9 Aug 1833)
José António da Mata e Silva † (Bishop: 20 Jun 1859 to 13 Jul 1860)
José do Patrocinio Dias † (Bishop: 16 Dec 1920 to 24 Oct 1965)
Manuel do Cenáculo Vilas Boas, T.O.R. † (Bishop: 5 Mar 1770 to 9 Aug 1802)
Joaquim do Rosário Vieira, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 3 Aug 1807 to 8 Sep 1808)
Manuel Dos Santos Rocha † (Archbishop (Personal Title): 14 Dec 1965 to 8 Sep 1980)
Manuel Franco da Costa de Oliveira Falcão † (Coadjutor Bishop: 1974; Bishop: 8 Sep 1980 to 25 Jan 1999)
Francisco Leitão de Carvalho, O. Cist. † (Bishop: 9 Aug 1802 to 21 Sep 1806)
Sebastião Leite de Vasconcellos † (Bishop: 19 Dec 1907 to 15 Dec 1919)
Manuel Pires de Azevedo Loureiro † (Bishop: 22 Jan 1844 to 26 Sep 1848)
Emmanuel de Sousa Carvalho, M.I. † (Bishop: 19 Dec 1814)
Antonio Saverio de Souza Monteiro † (Bishop: 9 Aug 1883 to 1 Jun 1906)
Antonio da Trindade de Vasconcellos Pereira de Melo † (Bishop: 18 Mar 1861 to 1 Oct 1863)